Kasey clenched his fists and sprang up with electric excitement. "Kill him! Left hook!"
It wasn't just Kasey; everyone was captivated by the duel unfolding before them. Kayden and Ashton exchanged a loaded glance, each seeing the same shock ripple through the other's eyes.
"Killian's Extremis variant is flawless. His recovery rate has increased severalfold," Kayden murmured.
Ashton nodded, the surprise in his pupils unmistakable. "Even so, it still can't match Tony. His suits are too advanced. Every set serves a different function, and each one gives him the leverage to suppress Killian."
From the scrolling flood of messages, the audience's excitement was practically tangible. Under his helmet, Tanner caught sight of the spiking reward totals and couldn't hold back a sharp, triumphant laugh.
[Bang! Amid the crackle, Killian rushed toward Tony fiercely. He shoved Tony directly toward the next platform. Jumping down suddenly, Killian aimed a punch at Tony's head, but the armor ejected Tony.]
[During the fall, another set of armor caught him and auto-equipped instantly. Controlling the silver armor, Tony blasted energy from his palm. But Killian was just as fast, dodging repeatedly in mere moments. All energy cannons were evaded. Killian spun rapidly around Tony. Waving his palms, he left multiple scratches across the surface of the suit.]
[Tony aimed his palm at Killian, but Killian twisted Tony's arm sharply before he could fire. As a result, the blast knocked Tony himself away. When he was about to fall, the energy port on his back ejected a burst of energy, stabilizing him mid-air and allowing him to stand again.]
The rapid exchange of blows sent the audience into a frenzy. Some of the more hyperactive viewers even jumped up and danced in front of their screens.
The Councilors observing the scene all arrived at the same unsettling conclusion: the fusion of advanced artificial intelligence with these combat suits produced a combat capability far beyond anything they had ever anticipated.
Then Gladwin suddenly spoke, as if recalling something critical. "By the way, about the suits and robot research, we received a report not long ago."
Everyone turned to him. Gladwin continued, "They claim a lot of people are now digitizing memories and awakening martial arts techniques. These can be encoded into artificial intelligence systems so the robots can learn them. Essentially, this creates martial-arts-type robots, drastically increasing combat efficiency."
A spark lit in every pair of eyes.
Kennedy leaned forward, visibly energized. "That's practically elevating artificial intelligence to a whole new tier. Hardware upgrades wouldn't even need to be significant."
Gladwin nodded. "Right, but the pace of AI development must accelerate. Too many projects are lagging behind."
Another Councilor added, "Still, this is an excellent direction, it might even reduce casualties."
Inside the Office of the Human Potential Organization, Kayden was meticulously recording every state Killian displayed.
"Power skyrockets, speed skyrockets, reaction speed skyrockets, recovery speed skyrockets…" She took a long, steadying breath.
The Virus parameter within Killian had once again shattered their previous understanding of the Extremis formula. His ability to evade Tony's energy blasts with such precision demonstrated that his neural reaction speed had reached astonishingly dangerous levels.
"It's a shame Tony didn't join us. We're now cut off from further Extremis-related insight." Kayden shook her head.
[After Tony stabilized himself, he rushed forward again. He landed a heavy punch on Killian. Energy jetted from Tony's left leg, the force gathering into a devastating knee strike that smashed into Killian's head. Tony's face was full of anger, every attack fueled by pure rage.]
[The two clashed fiercely, sparks and explosions erupting everywhere. Tony's fury at Killian for killing Pepper was entirely channeled into every strike aimed to kill.]
[Suddenly, Killian grabbed the armor's legs. His right hand transformed into a long blade and slashed down. Tony quickly controlled the suit, opening its leg structure. Killian's slash missed the target, but still chopped part of the suit to pieces.]
[Bang! The mechanical leg snapped. Tony threw a punch, but Killian overturned him instantly.]
[Killian grabbed Tony's hand, leaned in, and said: "Here we are, on the roof."]
[Tony looked at the helmet display. The suit, under intense heat and pressure, had multiple damaged parts.]
"Damn it! Killian is too strong!"
"Tony, f him up!"
"His temperature counters the suits, and his strength is insane!"
"That slash was unreal! One hit and the alloy leg was gone!"
"He's like a humanoid tyrannosaurus!"
"Extremis is horrifying!"
Tony's suits were formidable, but Killian's Extremis was equally monstrous. Viewers felt as if they were witnessing the dawn of a terrifying new era.
[Killian glowed red. He raised his right hand, turning it into a blade again. Suddenly, he slashed downward toward Tony's head. If this landed, Tony would be split in two.]
The entire audience froze, breath caught in their throats.
[The intense temperature would slice through the suit, and Tony was in dire straits. But the rear compartment suddenly opened, and Tony tumbled out onto a lower platform. The broken suit was hurled aside by Killian. Suddenly, a light streaked in from the distance.]
[Jarvis said, "Mark 42 inbound."]
[Tony sighed, "I'll be damn, the prodigal son returns."]
[He dropped to one knee, reaching back to summon it. Mark 42 flew toward him at high speed but suddenly slammed into a pillar.]
[Bang! The Mark 42 disintegrated and scattered at Tony's feet.]
For a moment, the live room sank into stunned silence. The suspense evaporated into sheer disbelief.
"This… Mark 42, good job."
"Anti-Tony armor functioning perfectly!"
"I want to laugh… what am I supposed to do!"
"Well… Mark 42 is something else."
"Tony's smile has officially disappeared."
"Ahem, I didn't see anything."
Even the Administration's experts struggled to contain their laughter.
Darwin was the first to give in. "Tony's armors, each one is more entertaining than the last."
[In the cold wind, Killian stared at Tony, and he said, "Whatever."]
["You really didn't deserve her, Tony. It's a pity… I was so close to having her perfected." Killian leapt from above, and Tony backed away.]
["Okay, okay, wait, wait, slow down. You're right!" Gasping, Tony said, "I don't deserve her. But here is where you are wrong, she's already perfect."]
[Killian was about to rush him when Tony suddenly gestured, controlling the suit parts scattered across the ground. The suit parts rose into the air. Under Tony's gestures, they latched onto Killian. In moments, Killian was force-fitted into the armor. His eyes glowed red as he prepared to unleash an even stronger attack.]
[Tony retreated and said, "Jarvis, do me a favor and blow up Mark 42."]
[Killian roared, "Nooo!"]
[Before he finished, the helmet sealed shut around him. Tony leapt to another platform, and the next moment, Mark 42 locked onto the container and detonated. The violent explosion shattered the entire container, and debris erupted into the air. Tony sprang away when Mark's 15 stealth suit swept in, flying.]
[The massive transport equipment was completely destroyed, but Tony slowed himself several times in mid-air and finally landed on the deck.]